A cross-border driver has landed in trouble after he molested his own niece. The man has been sentenced to 12 years in jail for fondling and sucking his teenage niece’s breasts before thrusting his fingers into her private parts while his wife watched.
Vusumuzi Mthethwa, 34, of Pumula South, Zimbabwe was convicted of aggravated indecent assault by Bulawayo regional magistrate Chrispen Mberewere on Thursday.
Mthethwa will serve an effective nine years in prison after three years were suspended for five years on condition that he does not within that period commit a similar crime.
In passing the sentence, Mberewere said Mthethwa’s conduct was deplorable and appalling. “You indecently assaulted your niece instead of protecting her.
“Your conduct is deplorable and shameful. The courts have a duty to protect a girl child from people like you by sending them to jail for a lengthy period,” ruled Mberewere.
Revealing what happened, Police prosecutor, Paida Zengeni said on October 17 last year, the complainant who was preparing to write her 2015 ‘O’ Level examinations at Amhlophe High School, went to stay with Mthethwa at his house.
But on October 28 shortly after 4PM, Mthethwa invited his niece to his bedroom where he started caressing her before sucking her breasts in the presence of his wife.
Not done with her, he ordered the wife out of the room before forcefully removing the girl’s panties.
“Mthethwa removed the complainant’s panties and inserted his finger into her private parts several times,” said Zengeni.
The court heard that after committing the crime, Mthethwa threatened to assault his niece if she reported the matter to anyone.
However, his luck ran out after the niece shared her experience with a classmate who in turn informed their headmaster about her friend’s ordeal.
It was the headmaster who reported the matter to the police leading to Mthethwa’s arrest.
The victim was taken to hospital for examination and a medical report which was compiled proved that she was indecently assaulted.
